Few political leaders in India have the clout within their own parties as J. Jayalalitha wields in her AIADMK party in Tamil Nadu. Whether dealing with party cadres or government officials, the cine star-turned-politician expects her directives to be taken seriously and acted on. This has its benefits: There are no intraparty feuds or factions. And law and order in the state is generally considered better when she is in power. Followers call her “Amma” (mother) and more ardent fans refer to her as “Puratchi Thalaivi” (revolutionary leader). This time she is not only betting to win a large slice of the 40 seats, but also expects to have an outside chance to being the PM, should the national parties fall short of the winning tally.